Ewing
Twsp. - Colonel Carson J. Dunbar, Jr., Superintendent of the New Jersey
State Police, today announced that the 119th State Police recruit training
class will start on Sept. 5 when 50 recruits report to the Sea Girt training
facility to begin an intensive 26-week training program.

The 119th Class will be the first
of five training classes scheduled to get underway by the end of the year.
The 119th Class will be followed by the 120th Class in approximately three
weeks with three other classes of 50 recruits starting approximately every
three weeks thereafter.

"With the start of the 119th class,
we are beginning a process of replacing personnel that have left the State
Police over the past two years. As the recruits complete training and are
assigned to general road duty patrol, additional personnel as called for
in the Attorney General's reports will be moved into supervisory positions,
the Office of Professional Standards (internal affairs) and to units responsible
for drug investigations," Colonel Dunbar said.

Dunbar noted that when the recruiting
process started last November, it was anticipated that two classes of 100
to 150 recruits would begin training in either the summer or late fall of
2000. However, as indicated from the outset of the recruiting drive, the
State Police and the Attorney General's Office continuously examined the
process and made adjustments as necessary. As part of the overall review,
the State Police determined to evaluate training programs utilized by other
police agencies. In particular, the Academy reviewed the training process
utilized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for the past ten years
- a training model that calls upon military discipline but also mandates
individual self reliance and initiative.

"As a result of the Academy staff
review of the RCMP model and teaching methods, and my own experience as
a parent and someone trained in education, I strongly believe that education
should, whenever possible, be provided in small classes. In order to provide
the best possible training, the State Police Academy staff has received
direct training from the RCMP and will incorporate aspects of the RCMP model
into the New Jersey State Police recruit training program. A major part
of this new training program involves reducing the size of recruit training
classes. While the RCMP model recommends 30 individuals in a class, the
State Police will begin with 50 recruits per class and, after our current
staffing shortages are addressed, will seek to further reduce class size
downward from 50," Dunbar said.

Colonel Dunbar noted that the
media has recently reported on the implications of the Fair Labor Standards
Act on police training in general. The Fair Labor Standards Act also has
an impact on State Police training. While the State Police will continue
to have a residency program at Sea Girt and much of the training schedule
will remain in place, evening training sessions will be reduced as a result
of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Therefore, each recruit will attend the
Academy for five additional weeks to insure all required courses are included
and recruits will attend night training on a rotational basis. It is anticipated
that the RCMP adult-based learning program will result in recruits working
on their own to keep pace with academy training. Additionally, the Sea Girt
academy has been upgraded to accommodate wireless computer systems and each
recruit will be provided with a lap-top computer to aid in research and
study assignments.

In commenting on the overall
selection process, Col. Dunbar reported that 5,023 applicants applied to
the State Police between November and December, 1999 (the most recent recruiting
cycle). Each applicant was required to have a minimum of 60 college credits
plus two years of work experience or a bachelor degree. Additionally, as
part of the Consent Decree signed with the NAACP, the State Police agreed
to specifically invite individuals who had previously applied to the State
Police to reapply.

Dunbar noted that during the
selection process for the 119th State Police Recruit Training Class, several
"firsts" were achieved. A summary of the selection process includes the
following:

- A blind screen was utilized
as applications were received and reviewed for minimum qualifications. Candidate
qualifications were reviewed and scored by two troopers who had no knowledge
of the candidates race or sex. Scoring was done only by number.

- Of the 5,023 original applicants,
1,930 were selected to be tested. This was based upon a scoring cut off.

- The test process incorporated
a new State Police examination designed by testing experts. Utilizing a
scoring cutoff, 831 candidates were selected to move forward to the physical
test.

- The physical qualification
test was also changed to mirror the same examination required of all State
Police enlisted personnel on an annual basis. Each academy recruit applicant
must meet the same physical standards required of all troopers. While this
was a revised standard to the entrance requirement, another change was also
included; candidates were afforded several opportunities to take the test
during a four-week period. All candidates were required to meet each of
the testing standards to continue. 241 candidates failed to meet the physical
testing requirements or failed to report for testing.

- 590 candidates were approved
to continue to the interview phase. The interview process also was revamped
to include two members from the State Police as well as a Human Resource
Specialist from state government.

- 370 candidates were recommended
by the interview boards to continue the process, moving to the background
investigation phase. The initial group of candidates for background investigations
consisted of 179 individuals. Of this group, 126 were considered qualified.
(At this stage, candidates were rejected for automatic disqualifiers such
as drug use, indictable convictions, etc. Individuals rejected for non-automatic
disqualifiers were reviewed by a State Police Bureau Chief, a Section Supervisor,
personally by the Superintendent and finally by the Office of State Police
Affairs in the Attorney General's Office.)

- 126 candidates from this group
continued to the psychological/medical examination. 99 successfully completed
this process and will be invited to attend the first two upcoming training
classes.

It is the intent of the State
Police to begin another recruiting campaign in September with the hopes
of attracting 200 - 300 additional candidates. It is further anticipated
that those candidates will begin training in May or June of 2001. Candidates
not selected for this process may reapply during the new recruiting process.
A formal announcement regarding the upcoming recruiting period will be made
in September.

As of this time, the following
candidates remain in the selection process (some of these candidates must
yet complete the background and/or psychological/medical process):

RACE

MALE

FEMALE

TOTAL

White

214

13

227

African American

23

1

24

Hispanic

35

1

36

Asian

8

0

8

Native American

1

0

1

A detailed break down regarding
the sex and race of the applicant candidates during each part of the selection
process is attached.